``test`` --- Regression tests package for Python
************************************************
The ``test`` package contains all regression tests for Python as well
as the modules ``test.test_support`` and ``test.regrtest``.
``test.test_support`` is used to enhance your tests while
``test.regrtest`` drives the testing suite.
Each module in the ``test`` package whose name starts with ``test_``
is a testing suite for a specific module or feature. All new tests
should be written using the ``unittest`` or ``doctest`` module. Some
older tests are written using a "traditional" testing style that
compares output printed to ``sys.stdout``; this style of test is
considered deprecated.
See also:
Module ``unittest``
Writing PyUnit regression tests.
Module ``doctest``
Tests embedded in documentation strings.
Writing Unit Tests for the ``test`` package
===========================================
It is preferred that tests that use the ``unittest`` module follow a
few guidelines. One is to name the test module by starting it with
``test_`` and end it with the name of the module being tested. The
test methods in the test module should start with ``test_`` and end
with a description of what the method is testing. This is needed so
that the methods are recognized by the test driver as test methods.
Also, no documentation string for the method should be included. A
comment (such as ``# Tests function returns only True or False``)
should be used to provide documentation for test methods. This is done
because documentation strings get printed out if they exist and thus
what test is being run is not stated.
A basic boilerplate is often used:
import unittest
from test import test_support
class MyTestCase1(unittest.TestCase):
# Only use setUp() and tearDown() if necessary
def setUp(self):
... code to execute in preparation for tests ...
def tearDown(self):
... code to execute to clean up after tests ...
def test_feature_one(self):
# Test feature one.
... testing code ...
def test_feature_two(self):
# Test feature two.
... testing code ...
... more test methods ...
class MyTestCase2(unittest.TestCase):
... same structure as MyTestCase1 ...
... more test classes ...
def test_main():
test_support.run_unittest(MyTestCase1,
MyTestCase2,
... list other tests ...
)
if __name__ == '__main__':
test_main()
This boilerplate code allows the testing suite to be run by
``test.regrtest`` as well as on its own as a script.
The goal for regression testing is to try to break code. This leads to
a few guidelines to be followed:
* The testing suite should exercise all classes, functions, and
constants. This includes not just the external API that is to be
presented to the outside world but also "private" code.
* Whitebox testing (examining the code being tested when the tests are
being written) is preferred. Blackbox testing (testing only the
published user interface) is not complete enough to make sure all
boundary and edge cases are tested.
* Make sure all possible values are tested including invalid ones.
This makes sure that not only all valid values are acceptable but
also that improper values are handled correctly.
* Exhaust as many code paths as possible. Test where branching occurs
and thus tailor input to make sure as many different paths through
the code are taken.
* Add an explicit test for any bugs discovered for the tested code.
This will make sure that the error does not crop up again if the
code is changed in the future.
* Make sure to clean up after your tests (such as close and remove all
temporary files).
* If a test is dependent on a specific condition of the operating
system then verify the condition already exists before attempting
the test.
* Import as few modules as possible and do it as soon as possible.
This minimizes external dependencies of tests and also minimizes
possible anomalous behavior from side-effects of importing a module.
* Try to maximize code reuse. On occasion, tests will vary by
something as small as what type of input is used. Minimize code
duplication by subclassing a basic test class with a class that
specifies the input:
class TestFuncAcceptsSequences(unittest.TestCase):
func = mySuperWhammyFunction
def test_func(self):
self.func(self.arg)
class AcceptLists(TestFuncAcceptsSequences):
arg = [1,2,3]
class AcceptStrings(TestFuncAcceptsSequences):
arg = 'abc'
class AcceptTuples(TestFuncAcceptsSequences):
arg = (1,2,3)
See also:
Test Driven Development
A book by Kent Beck on writing tests before code.
Running tests using ``test.regrtest``
=====================================
``test.regrtest`` can be used as a script to drive Python's regression
test suite. Running the script by itself automatically starts running
all regression tests in the ``test`` package. It does this by finding
all modules in the package whose name starts with ``test_``, importing
them, and executing the function ``test_main()`` if present. The names
of tests to execute may also be passed to the script. Specifying a
single regression test (**python regrtest.py** *test_spam.py*) will
minimize output and only print whether the test passed or failed and
thus minimize output.
Running ``test.regrtest`` directly allows what resources are available
for tests to use to be set. You do this by using the *-u* command-line
option. Run **python regrtest.py** *-uall* to turn on all resources;
specifying *all* as an option for *-u* enables all possible resources.
If all but one resource is desired (a more common case), a comma-
separated list of resources that are not desired may be listed after
*all*. The command **python regrtest.py** *-uall,-audio,-largefile*
will run ``test.regrtest`` with all resources except the *audio* and
*largefile* resources. For a list of all resources and more command-
line options, run **python regrtest.py** *-h*.
Some other ways to execute the regression tests depend on what
platform the tests are being executed on. On Unix, you can run
**make** *test* at the top-level directory where Python was built. On
Windows, executing **rt.bat** from your ``PCBuild`` directory will run
all regression tests.
``test.test_support`` --- Utility functions for tests
*****************************************************
Note: The ``test.test_support`` module has been renamed to
``test.support`` in Python 3.0. The *2to3* tool will automatically
adapt imports when converting your sources to 3.0.
The ``test.test_support`` module provides support for Python's
regression tests.
This module defines the following exceptions:
exception exception test.test_support.TestFailed
Exception to be raised when a test fails. This is deprecated in
favor of ``unittest``-based tests and ``unittest.TestCase``'s
assertion methods.
exception exception test.test_support.TestSkipped
Subclass of ``TestFailed``. Raised when a test is skipped. This
occurs when a needed resource (such as a network connection) is not
available at the time of testing.
exception exception test.test_support.ResourceDenied
Subclass of ``TestSkipped``. Raised when a resource (such as a
network connection) is not available. Raised by the ``requires()``
function.
The ``test.test_support`` module defines the following constants:
test.test_support.verbose
``True`` when verbose output is enabled. Should be checked when
more detailed information is desired about a running test.
*verbose* is set by ``test.regrtest``.
test.test_support.have_unicode
``True`` when Unicode support is available.
test.test_support.is_jython
``True`` if the running interpreter is Jython.
test.test_support.TESTFN
Set to the path that a temporary file may be created at. Any
temporary that is created should be closed and unlinked (removed).
The ``test.test_support`` module defines the following functions:
test.test_support.forget(module_name)
Removes the module named *module_name* from ``sys.modules`` and
deletes any byte-compiled files of the module.
test.test_support.is_resource_enabled(resource)
Returns ``True`` if *resource* is enabled and available. The list
of available resources is only set when ``test.regrtest`` is
executing the tests.
test.test_support.requires(resource[, msg])
Raises ``ResourceDenied`` if *resource* is not available. *msg* is
the argument to ``ResourceDenied`` if it is raised. Always returns
true if called by a function whose ``__name__`` is ``'__main__'``.
Used when tests are executed by ``test.regrtest``.
test.test_support.findfile(filename)
Return the path to the file named *filename*. If no match is found
*filename* is returned. This does not equal a failure since it
could be the path to the file.
test.test_support.run_unittest(*classes)
Execute ``unittest.TestCase`` subclasses passed to the function.
The function scans the classes for methods starting with the prefix
``test_`` and executes the tests individually.
It is also legal to pass strings as parameters; these should be
keys in ``sys.modules``. Each associated module will be scanned by
``unittest.TestLoader.loadTestsFromModule()``. This is usually seen
in the following ``test_main()`` function:
def test_main():
test_support.run_unittest(__name__)
This will run all tests defined in the named module.
test.test_support.check_warnings()
A convenience wrapper for ``warnings.catch_warnings()`` that makes
it easier to test that a warning was correctly raised with a single
assertion. It is approximately equivalent to calling
``warnings.catch_warnings(record=True)``.
The main difference is that on entry to the context manager, a
``WarningRecorder`` instance is returned instead of a simple list.
The underlying warnings list is available via the recorder object's
``warnings`` attribute, while the attributes of the last raised
warning are also accessible directly on the object. If no warning
has been raised, then the latter attributes will all be ``None``.
A ``reset()`` method is also provided on the recorder object. This
method simply clears the warning list.
The context manager is used like this:
with check_warnings() as w:
warnings.simplefilter("always")
warnings.warn("foo")
assert str(w.message) == "foo"
warnings.warn("bar")
assert str(w.message) == "bar"
assert str(w.warnings[0].message) == "foo"
assert str(w.warnings[1].message) == "bar"
w.reset()
assert len(w.warnings) == 0
New in version 2.6.
test.test_support.captured_stdout()
This is a context manager than runs the ``with`` statement body
using a ``StringIO.StringIO`` object as sys.stdout. That object
can be retrieved using the ``as`` clause of the ``with`` statement.
Example use:
with captured_stdout() as s:
print "hello"
assert s.getvalue() == "hello"
New in version 2.6.
The ``test.test_support`` module defines the following classes:
class class test.test_support.TransientResource(exc[, **kwargs])
Instances are a context manager that raises ``ResourceDenied`` if
the specified exception type is raised. Any keyword arguments are
treated as attribute/value pairs to be compared against any
exception raised within the ``with`` statement. Only if all pairs
match properly against attributes on the exception is
``ResourceDenied`` raised.
New in version 2.6.
class class test.test_support.EnvironmentVarGuard
Class used to temporarily set or unset environment variables.
Instances can be used as a context manager.
New in version 2.6.
EnvironmentVarGuard.set(envvar, value)
Temporarily set the environment variable ``envvar`` to the value of
``value``.
EnvironmentVarGuard.unset(envvar)
Temporarily unset the environment variable ``envvar``.
class class test.test_support.WarningsRecorder
Class used to record warnings for unit tests. See documentation of
``check_warnings()`` above for more details.
New in version 2.6.